Bloomberg published recentlythat Hoya and Pentax have decided on a restructuring move to send alltheir previous camera production in Japan to their Philippines (DSLRs)and Vietnam facilities (lenses), where most production is alreadytaking place, by March 31st, 2009. Hoya and Pentax have been involvedin reorganizing their operations since Hoya purchased Pentax, and thisshould be seen as a good sign that they are focusing on productionissues, particularly when too many cooks are in the kitchen andproduction continues to be more affordable in Southeast Asia. It'sgoing to be a costly transition, though, for both companies to make thetransfer for most of their manufacturing technologies and close upfactory space. However, I'm sure there are lots of good memories of theMashigo plant in Toshigi and the old haunts for Japanese Pentax cameraworkers. Pentax's home base will still be Japan despite the off shoremanufacturing. I came to this news a few weeks late (it was originallymade public Sept. 18th, 2008.Link via PMA Newsline and Nikonians.) |